HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutionCity of Miami
Resolution
Legislation
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 17845 Final Action Date: 10/23/2025
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE
PAYMENT OF ATTORNEYS' FEES AND COSTS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED THE FOLLOWING: SEVEN HUNDRED FIVE THOUSAND FIFTY-FIVE
DOLLARS ($705,055.00) TO KUEHNE DAVIS LAW, P.A.; ONE HUNDRED
TWENTY ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED TWENTY THREE DOLLARS
AND THIRTY THREE CENTS ($121,723.33) TO SUSY RIBERO-AYALA, P.A.;
EIGHTY SIX THOUSAND AND NINETY-SEVEN DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS
($86,097.50) TO GUNSTER; NINETY EIGHT THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED
AND THIRTY FIVE DOLLARS ($98,535.00) TO RICHARD DIAZ P.A.; TWO
HUNDRED EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS ($208,000.00) TO COLLAZO LAW
FIRM, P.A.; ONE HUNDRED NINE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND
TWENTY-SIX DOLLARS AND EIGHTY ONE CENTS($109,926.81) FOR COSTS
AS REIMBURSEMENT FOR LEGAL FEES AND COSTS IN THE CASE OF THE
STATE OF FLORIDA v. ALEX DIAZ DE LA PORTILLA, ET. AL., CASE NO. F23-
018478; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM ACCOUNT NO.
50001.301001.545014.0000.00000.
WHEREAS, Benedict Kuehne, Susy Ribero -Ayala, Gunster, Richard Diaz, and the
Collazo Law Firm (collectively, "Counsel") represented former Commissioner Alex Diaz de la
Portilla, in the Case styled State of Florida v. Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Case No. F23-018478;
and
WHEREAS, the allegations contained within the criminal complaint arose out of former
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla's official duties as a commissioner for the City of Miami
and Counsels were retained in defense of that criminal claim; and
WHEREAS, Florida law recognizes that a public official may be entitled to legal
representation at public expense in order to defend himself/herself against litigation arising out
of the performance of his/her official duties. See Thornber v. City of Fort Walton Beach, 568 So.
2d 914 (Fla. 1990); see also Maloy v. Board of County Commissioners of Leon County, 946 So.
2d 1260 (Fla. 1st DCA 2007);
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. Payment of attorneys' fees and costs in an amount not to exceed the
following: Seven Hundred Five Thousand Fifty -Five dollars ($705,055.00) to Kuehne Davis
Law, P.A.; One Hundred Twenty One Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty Three dollars and
Thirty Three Cents ($121,723.33) to Susy Ribero -Ayala, P.A.; Eighty Six Thousand and Ninety -
City of Miami Page 1 of 2 File ID: 17845 (Revision:) Printed On: 11/4/2025
File ID: 17845 Enactment Number:
Seven dollars and Fifty Cents ($86,097.50) to Gunster; Ninety Eight Thousand Five Hundred
and Thirty Five dollars ($98,535.00) to Richard Diaz P.A.; Two Hundred Eight Thousand
($208,000.00) to Collazo Law Firm, P.A.; and One Hundred Nine Thousand Nine Hundred and
Twenty -Six dollars and Eighty One Cents ($109,926.81) for costs.
Section 3. Funds are to be allocated from Account No.
50001.301001.545014.0000.00000.
Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
City of Miami Page 2 of 2 File ID: 17845 (Revision:) Printed on: 11/4/2025